The 20 Most Exciting Stars Playing Football This Fall

Football season is the best time of the year, with weekends full of couch cozying and channel surfing for the abundance of games on.

With one week down in college football and the NFL kicking off this week, it's a perfect time to highlight a few players fans should familiarize themselves with a little more than the others. They're the most exciting ones who will grace the gridiron this fall.

Robert Nkemdiche (NCAA: Ole Miss Rebels)

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When a player is a former top recruit in the entire nation, there's a hell of a lot of fanfare that surrounds him.

Such was the case with Ole Miss Rebels defender Robert Nkemdiche, who, in 2013, had that top billing as he entered Oxford with high expectations.

After battling injuries in his first two seasons and totaling just three sacks for the Rebs, Nkemdiche immediately showed what he's capable of doing in the first game of the 2015 season, as he blocked a field-goal attempt and rumbled 31 yards for an offensive touchdown in the team's big victory.

Known for his defense, it's clear that Nkemdiche is a playmaker Ole Miss wants on the field as much as possible.

Julio Jones (NFL: Atlanta Falcons)

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Some may be surprised to see the soft-spoken Julio Jones on this list, but there's no denying the excitement that the wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons brings.

As smooth a receiver as there is in the league, when Jones is healthy, he's nearly unstoppable, overmatching defenders with size (6'3", 220 lbs), speed, strength and agility that is just too much to shut down.

Jones is the type of player who can take a bubble screen to the house off sure athleticism, changing the outcome of a game with just one play.

Shawn Oakman (NCAA: Baylor Bears)

With just one picture, Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman became one of the most ridiculous athletic specimens football fans had ever seen.

Standing at midfield prior to his Bears taking on Michigan State in last year's Cotton Bowl, Oakman showed why he's projected to be a first-round pick thanks to his massive size alone, as he stands 6'8" and carries 280 pounds of muscle around.

Oakman is a freak of nature who shouldn't be able to do the things that he does with such ease—which is just part of the reason why he deserves every fan's attention this year.

Andrew Luck (NFL: Indianapolis Colts)

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While there have been and still are quarterbacks in the NFL who have accomplished more than Indianapolis Colts signal-caller Andrew Luck, few have done what he has in his first three seasons in the league.

Not yet reaching a Super Bowl, Luck has led Indy to the playoffs in each of those three years and is generally regarded as the heir apparent to the passing records thrown by Peyton Manning—who, ironically enough, is the player Luck took over for with the Colts.

Luck might not be running all over the place and eluding defenders with spin moves or crazy jukes, but because he was blessed with a golden right arm, he's as entertaining as a football player gets.

Adoree' Jackson (NCAA: USC Trojans)

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There aren't too many three-way players in college football these days, but USC Trojans player Adoree' Jackson happens to be one of them—and he's a damn star at performing them all.

Acting as a wide receiver, cornerback and returner for the Trojans, Jackson is a scoring threat anytime he's on the field, capable of doing things that will make you reminisce about guys such as Charles Woodson and Deion Sanders—no joke.

Last year's Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Jackson is a pure athlete who could also wind up in the Olympics as a long-jumper, so, yeah, he can do it all.

Marshawn Lynch (NFL: Seattle Seahawks)

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Go ahead and take these shifty running backs who elude defenders with their quickness and agility. I'll happily take Marshawn Lynch to punish those same would-be tacklers with pure power and strength.

Lynch might not come to mind when thinking about the most gifted pure athletes in the NFL, but, rest assured, he's as talented and entertaining as anyone.

Given the whole Beast Mode personality and passion he plays with—along with the crazy antics off the field—it's no surprise to see why Lynch is one of the most popular players in the league.

DeShaun Watson (NCAA: Clemson Tigers)

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If you're unfamiliar with Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson, where have you been for the past several months?

Highly touted as the nation's top returning quarterback—which is a tall compliment—Watson, who missed time in 2014 with three serious injuries in his freshman campaign, seems to be everyone's favorite sophomore in 2015.

However, after 19 total touchdowns byway of the air and the ground before getting hurt in 2014, Watson returns to great fanfare that has him talked about as both a Heisman Trophy candidate and the single reason why Clemson could crash the College Football Playoff party.

He's an exciting quarterback who plays as if he were in a video game, so expect to be on the edge of your seat when he plays.

Rob Gronkowski (NFL: New England Patriots)

He might be "just a tight end," but the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski isn't cut out of the same mold as those ordinary guys who play the same position.

Gronk brings more of a swagger to the position than anyone before him, capable of carrying defenders on his back and using pure power to make plays for the Pats.

With hands that resemble a bear's and a personality that is as energetic as anyone's you'll ever meet, there's a reason why Gronk is so beloved—even if you're not a New England fan—and it's because he's so exciting to watch.

Joey Bosa (NCAA: Ohio State Buckeyes)

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The Ohio State All-American defender may have been suspended for the opening game against Virginia Tech, but that doesn't take away anything that Joey Bosa will do during the 2015 season.

After finishing with 13.5 sacks in 2014, Bosa—who has been compared to Houston Texans All-World defensive end J.J. Watt—is one of the most hyped players in college football this year, climbing up NFL draft boards should he decide to declare at season's end.

With a big personality that matches his big-time play, Bosa is a joy to watch—unless you're an opposing quarterback.

Le'Veon Bell (NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers)

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There have been plenty of great running backs before him, but, right now, Pittsburgh Steelers runner Le'Veon Bell might just be the best dual-threat player in the NFL.

That's quite the statement, but the proof is in the numbers.

After leading the AFC in rushing in 2014—which was second-best in the league—Bell showed his versatility by hauling in 83 catches for 854 yards, which also led the AFC and was second-most of any running back in the league.

Bell might be suspended for the first two games of 2015, but, rest assured, once he returns, he'll be as exciting as ever.

Leonard Fournette (NCAA: LSU Tigers)

Another former top recruit in the nation, LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette is one of the scariest men an opposing player can see in the backfield.

With ridiculous size (6'1", 230 lbs) and speed, it's no wonder some actually compare him to all-world runner Adrian Peterson.

After rushing for just over 1,000 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in 2014, Fournette's a player who, as a sophomore, is being talked about as a Heisman Trophy candidate—which seriously began after his Music City Bowl performance last year.

Pay attention to this kid, because, in a couple of years, he could just be the No. 1 player taken in fantasy football drafts for a while.

Calvin Johnson (NFL: Detroit Lions)

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When you're trying to build the prototypical wide receiver, there might not be anything closer in real life than the Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson, who has redefined the position in his years in the NFL.

Whether it be triple coverage or going across the middle for a catch, Megatron is usually the one coming down with the football, making every play look routine.

Freakishly athletic for a guy his size (6'5", 236 lbs), Johnson is a once-in-a-lifetime talent who can change the outcome of a game with just a simple play—which is the definition of what a playmaker should be.

Derrick Henry (NCAA: Alabama Crimson Tide)

There were multiple times during the Alabama Crimson Tide's opening game against the Wisconsin Badgers when I trued to my buddies and said, "Good Lord, Derrick Henry is a beast!"

That's because, at 6'3'' and 238 pounds, Henry isn't just a load to take down, but he's got some serious speed in those legs, too.

An absolute bulldozer who can run over linebackers and past defensive backs, Henry might just be the most lethal running back the Tide have had since Nick Saban took over Bama in 2007—and that includes a Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram and former studs Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon.

Antonio Brown (NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Since when did the Pittsburgh Steelers become such an offensive juggernaut? His teammate Le'Veon Bell appeared on this list earlier, but it's wide receiver Antonio Brown who is an even bigger playmaker for the Black and Yellow.

Finishing with 129 catches for nearly 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014—with his receptions and yards finishing first in the NFL—Brown proved that he has emerged as one of the top receivers in all of football, capable of going off at any moment.

Agile, quick and dependable, Antonio Brown might not be the physical freak that Calvin Johnson is, but he's just as reliable at bringing the football in and making big plays for his squad.

Nick Chubb (NCAA: Georgia Bulldogs)

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At the University of Georgia, anytime a running back gets mentioned in the same breath as all-timer Herschel Walker—who was, and still is, a god in Athens—that's some serious praise.

For current running back Nick Chubb, it's just par for the course, as he's rewriting the Bulldogs' record books.

Currently carrying the most consecutive 100-plus-yard rushing games in Dawgs history since Walker—a streak that has reached nine in a row—Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2014 and is set for another huge season in 2015.

After finishing with 120 yards and two scores in UGA's opening game, Chubb is a dynamic player who brings a hell of a lot of talent to the gridiron.

Adrian Peterson (NFL: Minnesota Vikings)

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To be blunt, there isn't a better running back in the NFL right now, nor has there been since Adrian Peterson came into the league in 2007.

Blessed with speed and strength, AD is the prototypical runner who just seems to toy with defenders with four- to five-yard gains before breaking off a 20-plus yarder or longer.

Coming back after a year off due to suspension in 2014, Peterson is talking himself up to have a year that might even be better than his 2012 campaign, according to the team (h/t CBS Sports' Sean Wagner-McGough). If you forgot, 2012 saw him rush for over 2,000 yards, so 2015 might be epic.

Trevone Boykin (NCAA: TCU Horned Frogs)

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A dual-threat quarterback who has size (6'2", 205 lbs), agility and speed, TCU's Trevone Boykin is one of the most dangerous players in college football with the ball in his hands.

Scoring 42 total touchdowns in 2014 and leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-1 season, Boykin single-handedly put lofty expectations on his entire team to make a run at a national title in 2015—along with thrusting himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation.

After his team missed out on last year's College Football Playoff, Boykin has extra motivation to be at his best this year—which is bad news for opposing defenses because he's pretty darn good already.

Odell Beckham Jr. (NFL: New York Giants)

Go ahead and accuse me of drinking the Kool-Aid, but New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. might just be the next great wide receiver in the NFL.

Of course, that's not hard to believe after the rookie season ODB had in 2014, when, after missing four games, he still broke numerous rookie receiving marks and, oh yeah, made the most insane grab you might ever see.

After finishing last year as the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year, look for Beckham to pick up right where he left off and continue to harass cornerbacks and safeties who really think they can stop the unstoppable from happening.

The Ohio State Backfield (NCAA: Ohio State Buckeyes)

Quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett, running back Ezekiel Elliot or H-back Braxton Miller would have been an easy choice here—especially after the performance each had in the opening game against Virginia Tech—but instead let's just list the entire Ohio State Buckeyes backfield.

Absolutely loaded behind the offensive line, Jones has one of the strongest arms in college football and led the Bucks to a national title last season, Barrett broke the Big Ten touchdown record for a single season, Miller is a two-time Offensive Player of the Year in the conference when he was a quarterback, and Zeke is projected as one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy this season.

With each player buying into head coach Urban Meyer's team-first mentality and embracing his role, it's scary to think about how dominant this group can be over the course of the season.

J.J. Watt (NFL: Houston Texans)

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I dare you to find me a more dominant player in the NFL today, on either side of the ball, than Houston Texans defender J.J. Watt.

Already a two-time winner of the league's Defensive Player of the Year award, Watt upped his value even more in 2014 when he hauled in four touchdown passes while lining up as a tight end on offense, showing how freakish of an athlete he is.

Still just 26 years old, Watt is a star both on and off the field, whose personality, work ethic and trash-talking capability are marveled by fans.

Oh, yeah, and it doesn't hurt that he's nearly unstoppable when on the football field, too.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.